Geranium plant named ‘Duepared’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy  Geranium  plant named ‘Duepared’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; double red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duepared’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duepared’.

The new Ivy Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Ivy Geranium cultivars with numerous and attractive flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2002 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number P20-1124-11, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number S-01-06, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Duepared was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Ivy Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Duepared has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duepared’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duepared’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Double red-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more vigorous than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have larger flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium peltatum cultivar Fisbeach, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,408. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Fisbeach in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium were larger than plants of the         cultivar Fisbeach.     -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had larger umbels and flowers         than plants of the cultivar Fisbeach.     -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had shorter peduncles than         plants of the cultivar Fisbeach.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Ivy Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ivy Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duepared’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were about two months from planting when the photographs and the description were taken. Plants were pinched one time about three weeks after planting. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significantly are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum cultivar Duepared. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number P20-1124-11,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             peltatum identified as code number S-01-06, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Compact plant habit; outwardly             spreading; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit. Freely basal branching habit with about four lateral             branches developing after the pinch.         -   Plant height, to top of foliage plane.—About 15.5 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 19 cm.         -   Plant widht.—About 12 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 5 mm. Internode length: About 4.1 cm. Texture: Slightly             pubescent. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             137A; venation, 144A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 144A; venation, 144A. Zonation pattern: Not             observed. Petiole: Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers persistent. Flowers             not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 15             flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             Germany, flowering is continuous from spring throughout the             summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: 46B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About             2.7 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly flat.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: 46A to 46B;             venation similar to lamina. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: 42A; venation similar to lamina.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About eight to ten. Length:             About 2.6 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: 46A to 46B; venation             similar to lamina. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: 42A; venation similar to lamina.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13.3 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color: 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.3 cm.             Diameter: about 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             Above five. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: 60A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma size:             About 2 mm. Stigma color: 59A. Style length: About 2 mm.             Style color: 2D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duepared’ as illustrated and described. 